SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Town residents voted for Joseph Long to join the SAD 35 board of directors.

In an election with a 15% voter turnout, 625 citizens cast ballots for Long. There also were 116 blanks and 27 undeclared write-ins.

Long, 59, of 67 Earls Road, said a week before the election, “I am a strong believer in the value and importance of public education. As cliché as it sounds, our children are our future. In my opinion, we define the country we want to live in by how well we educate our children.”

This will be Long’s first stint in elected public office. He said previously he would like to help maintain high quality educational standards in the face of budget constraints.